dual battery set up for prado 150 and camper trailer

GB's,

There is a thread that covers just this topic only a few posts down here is trhe link;

Dual Battery In Camper - 98892

You won't go wrong with Redarc products. I have used them in my camper pod and in the ute. There is an extensive write up as to what and why in this Blog.

Building the dream off-roader

and a product review on the redarc DC-DC chargers here;

Redarc product review


Good luck with it all.



Cheers Mick

gonnaBs,

You haven't mentioned what your current setup is for running the fridge in the back of your Prado, but I will mention what I have derived at for your information.

I am running a Sidewinder Flyer battery system containing a 100Ah AGM battery, which runs my 40L Engel in the back of my rig. The AGM is charged via the vehicle alternator while travelling and is separated from the starter battery via the built-in isolator inside the Flyer.

I also have a camper trailer with two 80Ah AGM batteries running an upright Waeco.
To ensure a quality supply voltage, I added a Ctek D250S Dual dc-dc charger which boosts the voltage if necessary and provides the battery bank with a 20 amp charging current.

The input connection for the camper comes from an output port on the Flyer via a patch lead to the Anderson connector on the camper trailer lead.
All cabling is heavy duty dual core cable from Sidewinder.

The Ctek D250S Dual also has provision for solar panel input to provide a charge to the camper batteries when stationary with the ability for the Ctek to determine which sorce is best when both are in operation.

I am a fan of Redarc products, having a Redarc electric brake controller which works extremely well, but when looking at the cost of the Redarc brand dc-dc charger, compared to the cost of the DS250S Dual, I just couldn't justify the extra cost of the Redarc product. If money is no object, I'm sure the Redarc BCDC1240 is an excellent product but I could not go past the Ctek dc-dc charger on a bang for buck comparison.

If you use a sufficient grade of charge cable between your primary battery and the auxiliary battery in the back of the Prado, you should not require a dc-dc charger for this circuit, (depending on the available output of the alternator) but placing one at the remote end of the camper circuit, just before the battery bank in the camper will ensure you have the best possible charging system for these batteries.

Hi. I have a 150 T/Diesel with a 40ltr Waeco in the back running at -10deg and a 22ft van with a 100a/h gell battery and 2x90 watt solar panels. I have fused 3mm +&- cables running from the car to the 12v charging system in the van through a 12 pin flat plug. When the engine is running it charges the van battery. I have another set of 3mm fused cables running from the van battery to the A frame. When I am set up at camp I can plug the van cables into the 12 pin plug and the solar panels are charging both the van and car batteries. Works for me. Just had 3 weeks out Wentworth way and the Waeco ran 24hr, 21 days nonstop. A couple of times the car did not get used for 3-4 days. (3mm is the wire copper dia.) It was quite a bit of work to dismantle the car and run the wiring from front to rear though.Took me two solid weekends and included removing the 3rd row of seats, all the side and kick panels etc. Took quite a few photos if you require them. Cheers,Bob.

We have a Prado 150 and run two 40 litre Engels. We have a portable dual battery of 105 AH Thumper setup in the rear of the Prado. Takes up some space but is safe, works like a treat and we can safely pack things over and around it. In our van we have two 120AH batteries and we have 190 W Solar Panel Setup.

When we had our camper we had 70 W of battery and the Thumper and on our last trip in it where we crossed the Anne Beadell using the two fridges, one as a freezer we had ample power.

Di

Hi GonnaBs

What model Prado 150 do you have ? I can email you some pdf files on the installation and recommended battery sizes that will fit.



Regards

Derek from ABR